How Sills and Wheel Arches Are Replaced

Replacing a car’s sills and wheel arches is a job that calls for certain skills and tools. Here is a rough step-by-step outline of how sills and arches are replaced:

Preparation: Before starting, raise the car with a jack and set it on axle stands for safety.

Removing the old sills and arches: Undo the fasteners holding the old sills and arches; they may be secured with bolts, screws or clips. Take note of how they were fitted so you can install the new ones correctly.

Cleaning the mounting area: Once the old sills and arches are off, clean the surface of old sealant, dirt and rust. This is essential for the new parts to sit properly.

Fitting the new sills and arches: Position the new sills and arches, following the manufacturer’s instructions or matching the placement of the old parts. Make sure they are properly aligned and sit flush against the body.

Securing the new parts: Secure the new sills and arches with the fasteners supplied with the parts or those used on the old ones. Tighten them to the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Checking the installation: After fitting the new sills and arches, check that they are installed correctly, securely fastened and sitting snugly against the body.

Repeat on the other side (if needed): If both sides of the car are being done, repeat the steps above on the other side.

Test drive and final check: Once the new sills and arches are installed, take the car for a test drive to confirm they are held firmly in place and do not cause any noise or vibration. Also check that all fasteners are properly tightened.